Santa Claus, in Spencer County, is the only Santa Claus Post Office in the nation, and each year thousands of people send their mail through this famous post office for a special postmark. This year the Santa Claus Post Office is offering a unique picture postmark to cancel the postage stamps on holiday mail.

The postmark is designed by a local high school art student each year, as part of an annual contest. This years winning design was created by Stacy Kern, of Heritage Hills High School. Stacy is the daughter of John and Charlene Kern from Dale, Indiana.

Postal patrons world-wide request the picture postmark each year, says Postmaster Sandra Collignon, who asks that anyone interested in having the unique cancellation on their holiday mail to please follow these guidelines.

Allow at least a 2x4 space in the stamp area for the picture postmark

Have cards already stamped before bringing or mailing them to the post office

If you wish to mail Christmas cards to the post office, package them - with postage stamps already on them - in a sturdy envelope or box, and mail to Postmaster, Santa Claus Station, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998

The picture postmark is available on working days between December 1 and 24

The picture postmark must be requested by the postal customer

There is no charge for postmarking - however there is a limit of 50 picture postmarks (hand cancellations) per person per day.

Between November 15 and December 20, Postmaster Collignon expects 500,000 pieces of mail to come through her tiny post office. During the rest of the year approximately 13,000 pieces of mail are processed per month. We do more than that each day during the Christmas season, she says.

A different picture postmark has been offered at the Santa Claus Post Office each holiday season since 1983. The Southern Indiana post office is the only Santa Claus Post Office in the nation.